In the best of times music is something that is important to me, but in hard times it becomes a form of soul care. Since Stacey's diagnosis music (along with running) has been helping me process things.
The day we heard the news I bought a new CD. The purchase was unrelated and earlier in the day, but ended up being a very good choice. The CD, "The King is Dead" by The Decemberists, opens with the line "Here we come to a turning of the season." While that line clearly relates to our lives right now as we enter this new season, there were more lines that reached out to me. Here are a few.
- "And it's 1, 2, 3, on the wrong side of the lee" (we are defiantly on the stormy side right now)
- "The season rubs me wrong"
- "there are times life will rattle your bones, and will bend your limbs..."
However one song has been the most significant for me. It is the first track on the CD, "Don't Carry it All." It contains the lyrics that continue to minister to me and the lines that first caught my eye as I opened the CD case - "Let the yoke fall from your shoulders / Don't carry it all, don't carry it all" & "A neighbor's blessed burden within reason / Becomes a burden borne of one and all...And you mush bear your neighbor's burdens within reason." These are powerful lines for someone like me. My response to most adversity is to just work harder, longer, more aggressively. I am not someone that easily shares their burden or gives pieces away to God or others. I figure that I can make it happen by sheer work and will power. Cancer doesn't work like that.
Opening "The King is Dead" two weeks ago and reading "Let the yoke fall from your shoulders / Don't carry it all, don't carry it all" was the voice of the Spirit telling me to let go of my control issues and trust God with this mess, but it was more, it was a reminder that we are not in this alone. Many people have decided that our families burden is theirs as well and are bearing our burden within reason. The outpouring of Facebook posts, blog responses, calls, texts, e-mails, hugs, wearing of pink in the church service, lists of people wanting to help in anyway they can, and the many other responses have confirmed in us that we are in no way alone as we go through this valley. It is a gift that goes beyond words to visibly be able to see the communities you are a part of - near and far - be so tangible in your life.
Thank you for bearing our burden along with us.
Joel K
Sometimes songs are stuck in our head and become aggravatingly annoying ("If I Die Young" comes to mind.), but it has long been my belief that most often they are placed there by the Spirit for a good reason. Some days they are the only prayer we are strong enough to utter.
ReplyDeleteMusic is a great way to put our feelings into words and help us feel what is going on. We will help bear the burden for sure and continue to pray daily.
ReplyDeleteI agree - songs can have a large impact especially during difficult times. Just this morning I thought of you guys when we sang "Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other, Our God is HEALER, awesome and power, our God, our God"
ReplyDeleteOur God is Stronger and higher than anything, including this cancer. Praying as you travel down this difficult road!
I love Rich Mullins. One of my favorite lines from him is, "Hold me Jesus. I'm shaking like a leaf. You have been my King of Glory, now be my Prince of Peace." Praying this for your family.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the title of your blog and and it says Don't carry it all I think of the words "Let go and let God". You will be amazed how God has everything planned for all of your family and you will find neighbors, friends, relatives and your church family to help carry your load. We love you and will continue to pray that our Great God will carry you through.
ReplyDeleteI love that.. times that rattle your bones.
ReplyDeleteMusic is feelings put to a melody. Lyrics and songs can touch us because they describe what we know we are feeling perfectly or they allow us to say "that's it" when we didn't know exactly how to express our feelings and/or a situation.
ReplyDeleteLove you and praying for you!!